DATE= 11/11/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222509
TITLE=CZECH / IRAQ ARMS (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A PUBLISHED REPORT SAYS IRAQ MAY BE TRYING TO ACQUIRE
EQUIPMENT FROM A COMPANY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC THAT WOULD ALLOW
BAGHDAD TO DETECT AMERICAN RADAR-EVADING JETS, SUCH AS THE F-117
FIGHTER-BOMBER. V-O-A'S NICK SIMEONE HAS MORE ON A REPORT THAT
HAS DRAWN THE ATTENTION OF THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES (NEWSPAPER) QUOTES UNIDENTIFIED U-S
OFFICIALS AS SAYING THEY ARE WORKING TO BLOCK IRAQ FROM
PURCHASING NEARLY 400-MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF THE CZECH-MADE
WARFARE SYSTEMS TOUTED AS BEING ABLE TO DETECT RADAR-EVADING
AIRCRAFT.
IT WAS THE PENTAGON'S F-117 STEALTH FIGHTER-BOMBERS THAT FLEW
UNDETECTED OVER IRAQ DURING THE GULF WAR, STRIKING AT IRAQI
TARGETS WITHOUT TAKING ANY HITS FROM GROUND FIRE.
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS NOT OFFICIALLY COMMENTING ON THE
ACCURACY OF THE REPORT. BUT A PENTAGON SPOKESMAN SAYS THE CZECH
REPUBLIC WOULD BE ILL-ADVISED TO ALLOW SUCH A SALE TO GO THROUGH
AT A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY HAS JUST BEEN INVITED TO JOIN NATO.
THE CZECH GOVERNMENT CALLS THE REPORT ABSOLUTE NONSENSE.
ALEXANDER VONDRA IS PRAGUE'S AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON.
// VONDRA ACT //
THERE ARE NO -- AND THERE WILL NOT BE ANY -- SALES OF
THE SENSITIVE MATERIAL LIKE THAT TO IRAQ AT ALL. THE
CZECH GOVERNMENT WOULD NEVER AGREE WITH SALES LIKE THAT.
// END ACT //
SUCH A SALE, HE SAYS, WOULD NEED THE APPROVAL OF THE CZECH
GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS PART OF THE ANTI-IRAQ GULF WAR COALITION.
(SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/RRM
11-Nov-97 4:07 PM EST (2107 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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